The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-02-17
AT FRANKLIN.
Some Spicy RecOllectiOnS Of an Or
derly-Sergeant.
BY WILLARD MussoN, FIRST SERGEANT, CO.
II, 10TH ILL, ELK CITY, KAN.

It was afternoon when our brigade-the
Second OF the Second Division, Twenty-third
Corps-arrived on the Columbia pike at the
outskirts Of Franklin. We filed to the left and
halted on low, level piece of ground, built
fires and made coffee While we were eating,
some wagons were driven along our front,
from which picks and shovels were thrown.
Hastily swallowing our crackers and coffee
each company, without orders, went to work
in its own way 10 intrench the line indicated
by the scattered tools Our company-H,
10th lll.-procured sufficient rails to con-
struct q breast, or fence, covering our front,
and dirt was piled against this on the outside.
Meanwhile Hoods men could be seen ma
nuvering on the hill west of u.s. 1t was evil
dent that we could not build the works as
begun to the proper hight in time, and ditch
was dug on the inside in which we could
stand with our heads on the level requisite for
our protection. While some were thus en-
gagged others tore down buildings, and from the
materials obtained constructed boxes or
troughs-" head logs" we called them. These
were placed on the embankment, filled with
earth, and rested on supports, leaving space
Of about four inches through which
TO POINT OUR MUsKErs.
James Burch. or Uncle Jim "-so-called by
reason of his being the oldest enlisted man in
our regiment-went to town while we were az
work, and there found his brother, citizen of
the place. whom he had not seen for years.
His visit was short. He came back as we
were completing the works. Then he, Lafe
Wise and myself, seated on the work were
discussing the probabilities of the coming en-
gagement and watching the movements of the
enemy. Uncle Jim said, pointing to the
ground at our feet:
:" Boys, right here / did my first drilling.
This is where / was brought up, my old home,
and here we met 10 drill on muster days"
Soon our skirmishers were driven in and we
hurriedly completed our preparations, each in-
diyidual arranging his accouterments as best
suited his own judgment. Uncle Jim, LATE
and / planned our share of the defense in
unison. LATE fixed his hat conveniently in
the rails, into which We three emptied all our
cartridges. A tin taken from a cartridge box
was placed beside the hat and all our caps
poured out of our pouches into it. Poor prepa-
ration for a retreat, the reader may think.
The lS3d Ohio, just from home, took its posi-
tion few yards in our rear.
Col. o. III. Moore, commanding our brigade
now rode along the line telling the men to
hold their fire until he gave the word. The
enemy's skirmishers came rapidly forward
without firing or being fired at. They
WALKED UP on OUR WORKS,
and were told by our boys TO get out of our
way. Some jumped down on our side, and
others back on their own. There was no time
TO take care of prisoners, and we let them
shift for themselves.
The Confederate lines, three in number, in
plain view, marched at quick time and in good
order. Those directly in our front were mostly
dressed in "butternGt." "How nicely their
yellow legs keep the step! How well they
maintain their alignment" These were my
thoughts as / stood at a ready, looking out
under the head-log, scanning the advancing
faces.
Where is Col. MooreP Why don't he order
us TO fire? Nearer they come. Has he for
gotten? Still nearer Wont il be murder TO
fire into such close ranks? Nearer yet Are
we going 10 surrender?
The order. Firew rings out. fire with the
rest, and while biting cartridge look TO see
what execution our volley has done. The
smoke rises and reveals fearful scene Barely
good skirmish-line are left standing Of their
| first line of battle. Thereafter the smoke OBJ
secures all view in our immediate front until
| darkness covers the scene.
The enemy are now replying TO our fire, and
the shots that pass over our heads are telling in
the ranks of the 1S3d Ohio. They are ordered up
| TO our support. Our men make them lie down
in our rear, take their loaded guns, aud
PASS THEM OUR EMPTY ONES
to reload. Our hatful of cartridges and the
caps are also handed back, and thereafter the
front line Of our boys attend only to firing the
muskets handed them from the rear.
Here sustained my worst scare. As the 1S3d
came up glance TO the rear revealed Ger
man Sergeant Of that regiment standing behind
me, his bayonet almost touching my back. He
was trembling with excitement, had his gun
cooked, and his finger on the trigger. invited
him 10 sit down in hurry. took his gun and
fired il, and set him TO reloading.' i also drank
his canteen Of water. for which j would like Il
thank him personally if he is yet living. He soor
cooled down. aud after dark, realizing that my
shoulder was becoming lame from the recoil O
the musket, i gave him my place in front
where he acted like a veteran.
Earlier in the engagement my attention wa
called TO our left where the enemy had broker
our line and were pouring over our works
They were rapidly forming a line at a righ
angle to ours, and were delivering murderou
m